Surprise! Diane Warren Is Back in the Oscar Race With a New Song

Diane Warren, a songwriter with a stellar record in the Oscar race, has announced a new song for the upcoming film "By Any Means." The track, titled "By Any Means," will be released on streaming platforms on August 21, accompanied by a music video on August 28 and a soundtrack album on September 18. This marks Warren's 18th nomination in the Best Original Song category, tying her with Sammy Cahn and Johnny Mercer for the most nominations in the history of the award.

Warren has not yet won an Oscar, but she received an honorary award from the Academy in 2022, making her the sole songwriter to receive such recognition. Her new song, co-performed by David Kushner and The Isley Brothers, carries a message of defiance and challenges societal norms. The film "By Any Means," directed by Elegance Bratton and starring Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Mark Wahlberg, is based on true events in the South during the 1960s.

Warren has expressed her intention to continue writing new songs for films annually, but the Academy's music branch members have consistently nominated her whenever she is eligible. The preliminary voting for the Best Original Song category will commence from December 7-11, with a shortlist of 15 songs announced on December 15. The final voting will take place from January 11-15, 2027, with the nominations revealed on January 21.